Evolutionary psychology Flashcards
Homology
shared inheritied structures e.g vertebrate limb, frontal lobe (anatomy is the way it is because of the shared genes & linke for caring for young (genes shared due to genealogy)
Convergent evelution
result of natural selection
requirements for natural selection
variation, heritibility, differential fitness
variation (natural selection)
Different individuals in a population have different morphologies, physiologies, and behaviours.
Heritability
There is a correlation between parents and offspring in the contribution of each to future generations. (look similar)
Differential fitness
if resources are limiting, different phenotypes will have different rates of survival and reproduction because of differences in their design.
what does comparative psych tell us?
not just HOW minds work, but WHY they work the way they do
what tool makes us unique?
Langauage
Kanzi
Reactive, not grasp functionality of language
don’t grasp functionality
types of intelligence
Domain specific. domain general
Domain specific
specific to a particular domain e.g. perhaps there are specific modules for language, vision, social cognition (cant talk to other parts of the brain and integrate information)
Domain general
integrates information across different domains 30
Vygotsky - domain general
language plays a major role in shaping thought: as we develop we internalise our speech which then allows us to develop complex thought
Piaget - domain general
language provides labels for experiences but is not central to the development of thought
Probabilistic reasoning
involves making predictions about the likelihood of different event outcomes.
kia experiment
Kea seem capable of the type of domain-general, complex thought that in the past has been thought to require language…
Genotype
what is inherited
– The set of DNA molecules contained in nucleus
– A genotype particular to a trait
Phenotype
what develops from the genotype
– An organism’s physiology, anatomy, behaviour
chromosome
thread-like structures contained in the cell nucleus. Each chromosome is a DNA molecule. Chromosomes occur in pairs. Human
somatic cells usually contain 23 pairs
gene
a stretch of DNA that produces a specific protein
locus
position of a gene on a chromosome
allele
alternative forms of a gene at the same locus
homozygous
when an organism possesses 2 identical alleles for a particular trait
heterozygous
when an organism possesses 2 different alleles for a particular trait
dominant
an allele that manifests it effects in both heterozygotes and homozygotes e.g. brown eyes
recessive
an allele that manifests it effects only in homozygotes e.g. blue eyes
polygenic inheritance
a trait whose phenotypic expression is influenced by many genes e.g. most psychological traits
Heritability of IQ
Can we separate the effects of shared genes from shared environments?
Three possible ways.
Adoption studies
2. Identical (monozygotic) vs non-identical (dizigotic) twins
3. Separated identical twins
Gottfredson 1999
IQ predicts social success
Jim Flynn & the “Flynn effect”
overtime intelligence is increasing
As the population dgrows – intelligence has to increase for the distribution to stay at 50%
IQ highly heritable but…
also depends on environment
Highly heritable traits cannot be changed
Therefore…
Ethnic and class differences are genetic
* Ethnic and class differences cannot (and should not) be changed
the dictator game
How much money would you give to another person (never going to see them again etc)
What was the most common response (keep it because you don’t know them, never gonna see them again etc)
phsychs dirty little secret
does not include all cultures and people
culture is transmitted and adaptive - how are cultural differences transmitted?
Cultural differences that arise due to information transmitted via social learning
vital for survival
how do humans learn
Overimmitation, presteige bias, conforming bias
Over-imitation
copying a behavior, even when that behavior appears irrelevant
conformist bias
copy the majoirty
presteige bias
copy the successful - copy behaviour anyway
what is a meme
idea that culture evolves through a process of inheritance involving bits of information
what is a selfish meme
Compete for limited space
Cultural selection for best replicators
Memes can enhance or reduce our chances of survival
Cultural fitness ≠ genetic fitness = doesn’t necessary mean genetic fitness
Consider smoking or vows of celibacy
An entirely new evolving system
designs a process where mems are competitive (not always helpful – this is the selfish part) e.g smothing, used to be called health sticks – wants to be replicated – doesn’t mean its actually good for you) like not sleeping – normilised in todays culture
Genes that exist in culture
Cultural behaviors/traits can help towards survival – what plants to eat, how to prep food etc
Meme doesn’t have to be beneficial – tries to replicate (goal to replicate)
Is religion selfish meme?
Yes – because it is trying to prorogate through people and the success of it reply of the practice of it from people
A cultural adaptation for group survival?
Belief in a powerful deity who will punish immoral behaviour helps individuals trust others in their group, promoting cooperation
what is pinkers claim
Changes in levels of violence over human history
Lorenz 1966 On Aggression
very pessimistic view
Underlying view there is an inventible violent human nature
Albert Bandura observational learning, modeling
aggression is socially learnt
selfish or cooperative?
Evolution is often seen as selecting for ruthless self-interest where ‘nice guys’ finish last.
Are humans inherently selfish?
ultimatum game
Depends on their the person accepts (if they do both is doubled)
evolution of human cooperation…
Even non-human primates may have non-selfish motives
Human cooperation is normative
Humans will punish norm violators
Cooperation is cultural
Reputation and language also play a role
Are we violent and selfish by nature?
Our closest relatives are a mix of violence (chimps) and non-violence (bonobos), self-interest and cooperation
Historical evidence of high rates of violence, but violence has declined massively over human history
Our nature comprises a capacity for violence, but also ‘better angels’ – compassion, fairness, self- control
What wins out is a product of human culture
nature of the primate?
Nature of the primate?
The real lord of the flies – complete opposite of what of the…(yt video – going crazy going at each other, killing eathother)
